davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Landry democrat., 1887-12-03
OT.

mel Prouty hitched up his teams and
started out of town. 1t was his in
tention to shake the dust of Bur.
lington from his feet forever, and to
go into camp near the creek for the
night. In the morning he would start
for LIE Roy, which town had made him a
liberal offer to locate there. Just as he
was hating his teams, delegation of
the citizens of Burlington, who were in
dignant at the shabby treatment bestowed
upon Col. Prouty, rode up. 1t was only
with the greatest difficulty that they per-
suaded him to return.
A temporary abiding place was found,
and, in this one room, were the office of
the Burlington Register and the home of
Col. S. S. Prouty and family. A large
flag, hung on cord across the room,
divided the office from the residence
From this humble beginning, Col Prouty
rose till he became one of the most in
fuential men of the State from terri
torial times to the present day.
The Kansas Frontier, established at
Junction City, in 1857, dragged out a
miserable existence till in 1862, under
the management of George E. Dummer,
it came to sudden if not untimely end.
An editorial in reference to the great
questions of those stirring times aroused
the ire of the soldiers at Fort Riley, and
they went to ''see the editor" The result
of seeing" him was that they "pied"
St. Landry democrat., 1887-12-03
AMERICAN BIRDS.
Success Met With in Introducing Them
Into England.

In recent letter to the London Times the
Duke of Argyll says: The Americans have
tried to introduce our skylark into their
country, and there are several American
birds which would be an interesting addi-
ton to our own. In the autumn of 1885,
procured about twenty living specimens of
the red-winged American startling, or marsh
black bird (Amgelatus phaniceas). They were
kept in confinement during the winter of
1856, and were liberated in the spring of
1886, when insect food had become abundant.
They were seen for some weeks afterward
apparently well able to make their living.
But they subsequently entirely disappeared,
and it would be curious to know whether
any of them have been seen in England or
elsewhere in Europe. Recently the man who
attended to them in captivity saw here
party of five Of them feeding on the be- ries
of the mountain ash. This looks like
familiar party-a pair and three young ones.
If so, they may be established in Europe.
They would be an interesting addition to our
native birds, from their iveliness and hand
some plumage.
St. Landry democrat., 1887-12-03

The negroes regarded corn husking as
a gala day, and not only our own hands
participated, but they focked from
neighboring plantations. AS the lines
of restraint were sensibly slackened
on such an occasion, all enjoyed
themselves. Our huskings were very
popular, partly because we were
reputed to treat our negroes well,
and partly-and largely I expect
because we always gave the huskers a
good supper and allowed them the use
of the threshing floor for dancing or any
other amusement they might select. The
husking began in the afternoon and the
participants came in large numbers. Old
uncles, gray headed, always replying to
an inquiry about their health with "On'y
tollabIe, boss" aged aunties, their heads
protected by a red handkerchief worn
turban fashion, and all of them victims
to that prevalent negro malady, "mis'ry
in de back" Athletic young men came,
too, their black faces shining with ex
pectation and their ivory teeth cleaning
between their thick lips as they smiled
and bowed to "massa." Bellies of the
quarter came also, coquettishly tossing
their heads at some compliment vouch-
safed by an admirer, while last but not
least came host of pickaninnies, of all
ages, sizes and colors, apparently as much
interested in the sport as their elders.
The corn was in great heap, and the
women,t men and children squatted
around it. Before. however, they COM
menced work Uncle Billy Green, the
Nestor of the plantation, climbed
with many a groan expressive of
infirmity to the summit of the pile,
and stood there with an ear of corn
in mis- hand looking like some barbaric
king, sceptre in hand, reviewing his army
from the throne. Uncle Billy did not
intend husking any corn; that did not
come within his province. His duty
was to inspire the labors of his people
with song, for song is as necessary as
air to an assemblage of negroes. Gener-
ally he sang the burden of the song and
the crowd took up the chorus. Some
St. Landry democrat., 1887-12-03
EASILY FRIGHTENED.

Native Wit Always the Best Ally in the
Time of Emergency.
A fine show of bravery sometimes does
as effectual service as the courage which
IL conscious of having practical defenses
at its back. A brave blast of trum-
pets will often cause citadel to capitu-
late, even in these modern days.
An American traveller while returning
home at nightfall through one of the
suburbs of Paris suddenly encountered
a savage-looking fellow who, stepping
up to him, demanded his money.
The American replied by clapping a
pistol to his assailant's head and then, as
the man recoiled, Selling him by the
throat and shouting for help. A police
man happening to be within hearing the
thief was secured and brought up for
examination the next morning.
Scarcely had he been sentenced when
the magistrate turned sharply upon the
American, asking, Monsieur, have you q
license to carry firearms ?"
mo, I haven't"
"Then | must fine you for having that
pistol in your possession"
"But is there any me 1Or carrying
pistol which cannot be fired ?"
"No."
"Well, then, I'm all right, for my pistol
has no lock, and intended that day to
take it to gunsmith for repair"
Here the thief broke out with cry of
fury and despair, at having been SO easily
deceived, and he probably always re
membered the occasion as one ON which
his native wit had deserted him. Youths
COzgDGnson.
St. Landry democrat., 1887-12-03
fCopyTt0htsd, 1871

Thanksgiving Day is festival of very
recent date in the South The holiday
on the old plantation that most nearly
corresponds to it was the corn-husking.
Everybody on farm feels good about
November, especially the proprietor, if
ne is good manager. The crops are all
gathered and snugly preserved from the
winters storms in barn, fodder-house and
rick. The hard work of the year is over
only the stock to feed, tobacco to stem
on wet day, corn to husk and occasion
ally load to be driven to the steamboat
landing. The farmer now has time to sit
in snug chimney corners in company
with his pipe, and watch the blue smoke
curl around his head, while the big hick-
ory logs in the great fireplace crackle
loudly as though they were swapping
their fingers in derision of the efforts
of the storm outside to render the house
uncomfortable, as long as they gloWed
and famed on the hearth.
In the great field the corn has been cut
off close to the ground and placed up
right in stacks to dry. When its
condition warrants, the stacks are torn
to pieces, the ears pulled off, and the
stalks are laid thickly on slanting
frame work of poles, thus form
ing fodder-house, impervious to wind
or rain; then the tired oxen for an OK
always looks tired to me) haul in the corn,
which is thrown in the fodder-house to
await the occurrence of husking festi.
val. This generally took place in the
latter part of November, when farm work
was about finished. When the dav ar
rived the corn was thrown out of the
fodder-house in great heap "a fine day
being always chosen, and it was husked
in the open air. AS fast as the covering
of husk was removed from the ear it was
placed in basket to be taken to the
barn. The husks were also carefully
kept to stuff mattresses. There is con-
siderable labor attached to husking a
large lot of corn, but where a great many
people take it in hand it is sooD done.
St. Landry democrat., 1887-12-03
THE STONE MEN OF COREA.
Half-length Human Figures Over Twenty.
five Feet in Height

Half-length Human Figures Over Twenty
five Feet in Height.
The last number of the Journal of
the Royal Asiatic Society" IN. S. vol.
xix.) contains short paper by Professor
de Lacouperie on the Miryeks, or stone
men of Corea. These are huge half
length human figures, carved in stone,
and looked upon as relics of religion
of former times. Those described by
Mr.. Carries in his paper on Corea, read
before the Royal Geographical Society
last year, are about twenty-five feet high,
cut out of some large boulders in the
middle of fir wood in hillside. The
largest hitherto known is at Unjin, and
is shown in plate prefxed to the paper:
1t stands about sixty-two feet high and
the body and head resemble those OF the
idols in Buddhist temples. A column
about ten feet high runs up, from the
head, giving support to an oblong slab
about the same length; on this stands a
smaller column supporting another slab,
and from the corners of the two bells are
pendent by chains.
St. Landry democrat., 1887-12-03
PIONEER PAPERS.
THE PRESS IN KANSAS BEFORE
THE WAR.
Trials and Tribulations of the Editorial
Fraternity in Those Days-Mobbing an
Unpopular Journalist and Breaking up
His Property-An Office without a Roof.
copyrighted, 1871

To-day every Kansas village If 800
souls has more or less neWsy paper
and each town of 5000 inhabitants pos
sesses at least one daily and seyera
weekly sheets. When this is considered
ones memory seems almost at fault when
it recalls that, but little over score OF
years ago, the number of papers in the
entire State was less than fifty. Half a
dozen years before that there were in
all but twenty-five or twenty-three of
them.
In those days the career of border
editor was far from being one long-con-
tinued picnic of existence. About the
only thing that the editors of then and
the editors of the present had in common
was the prevailing desire to fill "long-
felt want Said "long- felt want" was
then, perhaps, more tangible than now,
nearly always existing in the editorial
pocketbook.
In those days, when the border, in
stead of being a mythical region as now,
was almost everywhere west of the Mis-
souri, line-when Kansas was all "bor-
der" with all the perils and privations
the term implies-yery little was consid-
cred necessary for the establishment of a
paper. Even town was not absolutely
needful. The paper was started and at
tracted the town, or was expected to do
so. If it failed to possess sufficient draw
ing powers and the town did not put in an
appearance, new location was sought,
and so on, till the editor "struck it
right" or became penniless and dis
gusted. The first paper published in
Kansas had the rather unusual name Of
lShau pannoace KesanMuan-in other
words, the Shawano Sun. The first num-
Der was issued in 1885 The editor was
Rev. lothian Meeker, who printed his
paper on small hand-pres at the Of
taWa Mission farm and circulated it
among the Shawnee Indians. Mr. Nee
ker began by teaching the Indians to
read and afterward published the paper
that they might crafty their taste for
literature. 1t was continued some five
years and was a success in its way.
One of the oldest editors, printers and
publishers in Kansas to-day is Colonel S.
5. Prouty. He had published the Free
nuns Champion at Prairie City, now
defunct town, and, upon receiving an
offer of twenty-five town lots, 5000 worth
of paid subscribers and house and office
rent free for year, he removed bv OK
St. Landry democrat., 1887-12-03
PUNCTILIOUS.

Dual Personalities in the Transaction OF
Every Day Business.
A gentleman in a suburban town went
to call upon a lady whose family occu-
pied one-half of double house. The
front doors of the two parts opened upon
the same stoop. At one of the doors the
gentleman pulled the bell. The door
was opened by servant, who answered
the inquiry for Mrs. S. by directing
the caller to the other door.
The visitor then turned to the bell-pull
on the adjacent door-post, and in few
moments that door was opened by the
same servant, who solemnly replied to
the second inquiry regarding Mrs. s.
by saying that the lady was not at home.
This incident is matched by another
that took place in Vihna-rather more
than matched, in fact, for the person who
played two parts in the comedy had
special mood and temper for each part.
my friend was in Vienna" says a
traveller. "He had taken from here a
letter of credit on one of the best-known
banks, and he wanted to draw on it. So
he sought the agency of the bank in
Vienna. He walked into an Office which
had big barricade in front of long
desk and two small holes cut for the
convenience of customers. He walked
up to the first of them. A man came up.
He handed the letter of credit to him.
The man looked at it and said, very
grufny, Next window
"My friend went to the next window, a
man came up, took his letter of credit,
looked at it, smiled pleasantly, and said,
That's all right. How much do you wish
to draw, sirY
at was the same man."-San Fran
sisco Chronicle.
St. Landry democrat., 1887-12-03
HCHIN-CHIN BUDDHA.o
The Peculiar Deviations in the Use of Re-
igiOus Expression.

In Anam the French conquerors have
found one custom which they have, in
some measure, fallen in with, since it is
so universal among the people that it Is
almost impossible to get along with
them without some use of it. This is
the custom of "Chin-Chin Buddha," or
homage to Buddha, which the Anamites
repeat in thousand forms.
Hanging upon the walls of their rooms,
the French have panels of silk orna-
mented with inscriptions which are at
once pious and decorative-pious from
the Anamite's point of view, and deco
rative from the Frenchman's. These
panels are "Chin-Chin Buddhas."
The term "Chin-Chi Buddha" means
"Hail, Buddba!" but it has come to be
applied not only to every sort of religious
homage, but to personal homage and po-
likeness as we'll. All prayers, obeisances,
offerings, acts of ceremonial Difference,
and even of ordinary personal politeness,
are accompanied with the utterance of
this phrase, "Chin-C Chin Buddha;" and
objects which are to be sacrificed, as we'll
as decorative objects bearing pious in
scriptions, bear the same name.
When French lady, the wife of a COM
mander, sailed up the Red river to the
town of Hanoi, all the children of the
town came crowding to the shore, MAX
ing salutes, clapping their hands and
shouting, "Chin-Chin Buddha p
The beggars in the streets utter plain
tive cries of 'Chin-Chin Buddha," as
they follow the passer-by, always speak
ing the last name very reverently.
The French in Anam have fallen into
the use of the term, and even use it in
their own relations. There is certainly
no formal expression in any European
language which has anything like so
wide use.-E.rchange
St. Landry democrat., 1887-12-03
GhaStlY PrA0E

For years Indian arrow-heads have been
found in such numbers on the shores of
Bantum lake, in Connecticut, that anti
quarians thought that battle must have
been fought there once. Recently workers
digging there found confederation of the bat
tie theory in the form of bones of men min
gled with rare Indian weapons. Apparently
the men had been buried in a sitting pos
ture, and one grave by its unusually large
collection of weapons, indicated that its oc-
cupant had been chief or mighty warrior
St. Landry democrat., 1887-12-03

When the honeymoon is over and acquaint-
ance molds the lover to a sense of sober
fitness and the seamy-sided real;
When the glow has left the fever and he
turns an unbeliever, how he wonders as
he ponders on the frallty of ideal!
Then he sees it is the fashion, for the will
ing heat of passion, to benumb to tenn
per frigid in POSSESSIONS needless sight
When his ardor terms question, of his pow
ers of digestion, or which of them retir-
ing shall put out the vexing light.
When the Benedict lies thinking, with his
peppers slyly blinking, at his better half
who shivers with an unproductive ire,
She discerns through coughs and sneezing,
with the mercury at freezing, that affec-
ton all depends on who constructs the
kitchen fire.
St. Landry democrat., 1887-12-03

times there was no chorus; then they
fell into line after Uncle Billy had
started it, At times he would impro-
wise, which would be unanimously ap-
plauded. The old man gazed down at
the busy huskers and then sang in q
sonorous voice:
Oh, Jinny's gone to Newtown,
| Oh, Jinny's gone away;
| Oh-h, no, no, With no, no.
Oh, Jinny's gone to Newtown,
| Oh, Jinnys gone to stay;
Oh-h, no, no, oh-h, no, no.
It is impossible to describe the chorus
intelligibly; the first "oh" was a long
| drawn word, while the remainder was
sung in rugged style of melody that, in
| the surroundings, was Wondrously touch
ing. When the echoes of this song had
| died away in the gloomy depths of the
pine forest back of the barn, the laughter
and testing recommended. But bark
Uncle Billy is singing again; he is i'm
promising in honor OF the supper which
is coming.
Shuck dat con, de day am a-golng';
Shuck dat con, de night am a-comin';
An de 'possum am a-bakin' in de kitchen.
This uncouth effort was nightly liked
and was sung with JUNCTION. BY this time
the pile has waxed small and Uncle Billy
stands on the ground. There is not work
now for all the workers and they stand
around singing a curious song that have
never heard outside that immediate
neighborhood:
Suns gone down an de days wuk's over
Miss Liza she's a-winkin';
Suns gone down an de nigger's in clover
Miss Liza she's a-laffin'.
The last ear of corn is "shucked." and
with much noise and skylarking they en-
ter the great threshing barn. Here
boards have been laid on barrels, benches
and boxes to form tables, and bountiful
meal is spread thereon. The viands con-
sisted of mighty dish of roast pork and
sweet potatoes swinging in a lake of
greasy gravy an enormous dish of bacon
and cabbage also invited assault; many
dishes of boiled hominy and ash cake ad
kbttum occupied the rest of the space.
How they did eat Their faces fairly glis-
tened as they swallowed huge pieces of
fat meat or sopped their cakes in the
greasy gravy. Amid this destruction of
comestibles there was plenty of time
for laughter, banter and jest.
After supper the boards and benches
were cleared away and Uncle Jack Craw-
ford, armed with fiddle, becomes
prominent parsonage. In a moment
tempting jig flowed from the catgut and
the dancing commenced A few did not
dance; they were deeply religious, or had
been saved at the recent bush-meeting.
1t is strange that as soon as negro gets
religion he abhors a fiddle; any other
instrument may pass, but the fiddle ap-
St. Landry democrat., 1887-12-03

team to Burling
ton, in 1859. Upon
arriving, he found
no room ready for
him, and there
seemed to have
been no prepara-
tons made for his
ception. He
was told to store
his material in a
vacant room, but
when he attempt
Ell to do so, the
o W n er of the
room, who lived
upstairs, objected
seriously, threat
ening to throw the
goods into the
street if the at
tempt was per
sisted in. Justly
indignant, Colo
St. Landry democrat., 1887-12-03

pears to contain the
very essence of Satan.
Uncle Jack Crawford
was the fiddler of the
neighborhood, and so
deft was he with the
hOrse-hair that some
pious old men averred
that they had seed
Jack Crawford lay dat
fiddle on de table an it
jest keep on a-playin'
without nobody a-tech-
in it."
The principal ex-
horter at the bush
St. Landry democrat., 1887-12-03
DIMINISHING,
A FESTIVAL DAY ON THE OLD
SOUTHERN PLANTATION.

The Hard Work of the Year Being Over,
the Farmer Then Has Time to Enjoy
Hfmself-How the Day was Regarded
by the Negroes-Music and Dancing.
St. Landry democrat., 1887-12-03

As we think Of the nuggets of collateral
n his possession one wonders how the u
yer crept in Gould"
St. Landry democrat., 1887-12-03
JULES GREVY.
THE NOTED PRESIDENT OF THE
FRENCH REPUBLIC.

Some of His Personal Characteristics and
Habits-Medium Size, but Compact rig
ure-Opposng the Franco-Prussian war;
How he Met His Son III law-OtherT Traits
St. Landry democrat., 1887-12-03

Figurafively Speaking.
There is some quiet activity, but very little
bustle. about the dress reform movement.
St. Landry democrat., 1887-12-03


fore, to see Brer Barlow among the guests,
but l was shocked to see him listening to
the music and looking at the dancing
with every appearance of interest.
"Why, Uncle Sammyr' said I, 'you
listening to a fiddle" The good man
gazed at me without loss of equanimity.
II amt a-heerin' no fiddle, an I amt a.
seem no dancin' chile" said he; "dat pore
sinner, Jack Crawford KUN mighty nyar
bein' saved at de bush-meetin' an I am
jest a-fixin' my eye on him to see if he
won't frow dat fiddle down an shout
glory"
Brer Barlow waited a long while, in
fact until the music and dancing had
ceased and the sin-hardened Mr.. Craw
ford had put his fiddle in bag; but I
don't think his eye did any service as far
as Jack Crawford was concerned. While
the dancing and merriment were at their
apex Uncle Billy approaches the musician
and touches him on the shoulder. In
stantly he stops playing, and Uncle Billy,
raising his hand, shouts, ''Ten o'clock !;
time TO- you niggers to get home" There
was hustle of preparation, great deal of
loud talking and louder laughter, and
soon all we hear of the jolly crowd is
the sound of their melodious voices sing
ing as they wend their way homeward,
and the corn husking for this year is over.
JAS. G. PLUMMER.
St. Landry democrat., 1887-12-03

meetings was a very black ne
gro named Sam Barlow. Brer
Barlow had declared in a forci-
BILE sermon that a Christian
would run from a fiddle "just as
he would from de debble his
self" Hence we doubted as to
Brer Barlow grazing our husk-
ing with his presence, for he
was aware dancing would be
INDUCED in. Uncle Billy
quelled my uneasiness on this
point. sDar am no fiddle"
said he, can dar am no debble
kin skear Sam Barlow from a
good supper, chile, now mark"
T wac not snrDrisad fhere-
St. Landry democrat., 1887-12-03

Thanksgiving Day is festival of very
recent date in the South. The holiday
on the old plantation that most nearly
corresponds to it was the corn huskinp
The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1887-01-28

'sHere is truly family magazine.
This is what we exclaimed after looking
through Demorest's Monthly for February.
.Home art and home comfort" tells how
to make home beautiful and home comfort
able; Household assists in the work in
the house from garnet to Kitchen; Our
Girls gives practical hints to the rising
generation. The information in the Cor
fespondepce Club" must be interesting to
the subscribers. as it is answers to their
own questions. The mirror of Fashions
must be perfect reflection Of the prevail
ing styles, for who can know them better
than Nine. Demorest? What Women
are Doing is always interesting to women;
The Worlds Progress gives passing
events in nut shell, and Prohibition
deals afiirmatvely with this great moral
question. The stories are of a high order.
The articles on interesting subjects are
very cleverly written by the best authors,
and the illustrations are profuse and very
fine. The steel engraving Cupid is
especially appropriate at this Valentine
season. Published by W. JENNINGS
DEMoREsT, II East 18th St, New York.
The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1887-01-28

We always give buyers full returns for
their money. Our business methods are
well-known to all. This explains cur ~
crease of business. which in amount this
year is largely in excess OF any former sea-
SON f. Il. Humphreys & Go.